Advance Astoria Business Survey

Advance Astoria: 5 Year Economic Development Strategy

Advance Astoria is a campaign by the City of Astoria Community Development Department to develop the City’s first economic development strategy. Astoria is the North Coast’s center for government, medical services, education, and cultural institutions. Although there are other factors that impact the regional economy, this strategy is solely focused on Astoria city limits.

The City received a generous grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development (DLCD) to hire a consultant (Community Attributes, Inc.) that would assist with development of this strategy. The project launched with a kickoff event in October 2016 and will be completed by June 2017.

The tourism industry has performed well in Astoria and the North Coast as a whole. However, the types of investments and jobs associated with this industry are not sustainable meaning there are limited wage scales, employee advancement opportunities, and it’s an import-based strategy reliant on visitor spending.

Advance Astoria is a new way of thinking about what types of businesses the City wants to retain, expand, and attract over time with key city investments and public-private partnerships that generate living wage jobs, career ladders, and private investment from outside the community (i.e., traded-sector or export-based industry).

This survey is intended to gain some insight into the needs and perspectives of local businesses that may benefit directly or indirectly from an economic development strategy. It’s important to note that the City is working on a parallel effort to improve housing opportunities. Therefore, this survey is solely focused on economic development opportunities.

The survey is confidential. Private or personal information will not be shared. However, if you wish to receive updates on this project, the survey includes an opportunity to share contact info.

The survey includes 10 questions and should take only 10 minutes or less. We really appreciate your feedback as we make Astoria a stronger, more resilient, and prosperous city.

Question Title

* 1. Please tell us about yourself. Check all that apply.

Commercial property owner

Business owner

Resident within Astoria city limits

None of the above

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. If you’re a business owner, what is the primary business function? Check only one.

Retail

Office (medical and professional services)

Manufacturer (includes processing, value added products, and assembly)

Warehouse/Distribution

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. How long have you been in business?

Less than 1 year

1 – 3 years

3-5 years

5 – 10 years

More than 10 years

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* 4. Do you belong to any of the following organizations? Check all that apply

Astoria Warrenton Chamber of Commerce

Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR)

Astoria Downtown Historic District Association

Uniontown Association

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. Astoria like most small towns faces a number of economic development challenges and opportunities over the next five years. Please rank the challenges you see as most relevant to Astoria: 1=most important, 4= least

Implementing minimum wage law increases

Competition: global markets, price sensitivity, market saturation, etc.

Finding a qualified labor pool

Finding financial resources to invest in city owned infrastructure

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* 6. Please rank the opportunities you see as most relevant in Astoria? 1=most important, 4=least

Rethinking training and development opportunities and workforce development to better serve employers.

Creating more jobs with new partnerships with businesses and government agencies.

Redevelopment of “Astoria Ford” site or South Tongue Point

Making investments in new technology, such as wireless communications.

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* 7. Some cities are facilitating “affinity groups” for certain industries to encourage collaboration, become more competitive, and provide educational opportunities. For example, craft brewers could hold quarterly meetings to share ideas, plan events, and train employees, or micro-entrepreneurs such as those selling on Etsy get together to share cost saving ideas for sales, packaging, and distribution. Would you or your business support this approach?

Yes…as long as someone can help run it

Maybe…tell me more about this concept

No…way do I see this happening

Question Title

* 8. As a business owner, what percentage of your sales and service comes from the following point of sales?

	Percentage of sales
Storefront	Storefront Percentage of sales menu
Online	Online Percentage of sales menu
Special events	Special events Percentage of sales menu

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. Astoria wants to diversify its economy from its two staples: tourism and seafood processing. What other types of industries (examples) would be a good fit in Astoria? Choose 4

Craft brewing/fermentation

Research, development, and educational institutions

Microenterprise (small batch manufacturing based at a residence)

Light manufacturing (furniture factory, metal fabrication, food production)

Heavy industry (pulp mill, log processing, ship building)

Healthcare services

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. What are the barriers to opening or expanding a business in Astoria? Select your top 3 choices

Zoning (outdated codes, building height restrictions, prohibition of certain uses, etc)

Access to capital (loans, working capital, equipment, tenant improvements, etc)

Available land or commercial space

Qualified labor pool

Training and development opportunities are too limited

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 11. What is the smartest investment Astoria could make to attract private investment? If you had responsibility for investing in Astoria, how would you prioritize investments? 1=top priority, 5=less important

Invest in education and training (i.e. create a more qualified labor pool)

Invest in high speed internet (i.e. fiber optic or broadband service)

Invest in public infrastructure such as better streets, more filtering capacity for drinking water, and wastewater improvements)

Find ways to invest in small businesses that create most of the jobs in Astoria

Lure a large scale, sustainable, non-polluting manufacturer that would offer living wage jobs but also attract other vendors (supply chain) and businesses to support the operation.

Question Title

* 12. The City of Astoria supports small businesses in many ways such as the Sunday Market, low business license and permit fees, and providing grants and loans to qualified projects. What else could the City of Astoria do to support small business? Select your top 3 choices

Create a “crowdsourcing” platform similar to “Kiva” where small loans (<$5K) are provided to jump start new businesses.

Create a “one stop shop” center for small businesses where you could pick up all city and county permits.

Establish an incubator space for startup businesses, such as a “maker space” for small artisan-based businesses or a commercial kitchen for food-related businesses to test recipes and products.

Expand the “Extreme Makeover” storefront improvement program so other business districts in the city could receive matching grants for façade renovations.

Consider an “enterprise zone” where certain businesses that meet strict requirements can move to or expand a current operation and receive a limited tax break.

Create or support an existing scholarship program that would fund retraining opportunities in skilled labor or other entrepreneurial pursuits.

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 13. Let's stay in touch!

Name

Business/Company

Email Address

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